Comments

Even though I did not want to pay more than list, my current leased car was being returned to volvo so I decided to bust a move. Going rate in the bay area at that time was $1500 over list. Tried to buy at list but nobody would budge (keep in mind this car is limited production and is a 04, not a 03 - no immediate depreciation hit). Only 2 silver cars in town at that time (out of 12 dealers). Walnut Creek Subaru in Concord did my deal, but I suspect Ron Price Subaru in SF would also have done the deal (they also had a silver one) if I had driven down there.

If you really want to buy this car, I'd recommend doing the following:1)find a dealer (or preferably two dealers) who has the car you want (call or check web inventory)2)visit the dealer in person and make your best offer3)be prepared to buy the car and drive it home(I left my current car and returned to pick it up the next day)I'm not sure when supply of this car will exceed demand, but I'm guessing it will take some time (especially if you want to pay list or under list - there are a lot of people waiting on the sidelines prepared to pay list).In the meantime I've driven 700 miles and am having the time of my life. CARPE DIEM!

East Imports in Grand Rapids Michigan (49512) will be receiving to STIs later this week. They are black with gold and blue with silver. Both are well equipped and will be sold at MSRP. There are the first STIs that have not been sold before arrival.

I've had my STi for 3 weeks. Only one dealer had any in stock in my area. I worked on them for 2 days and got them down to $1,800 over sticker (from $6,000). My STi had 5 miles on it when I drove it off the lot - I didn't even have them clean it up, it still had the plastic on it. I had it professionally detailed a couple of days later.

Errrm... so you still paid a $1,800 markup over MSRP? Perhaps it depends on the area, every New England dealer has at least one sitting on their lot and they're more than happy to let them go at MSRP or even MRSP including a couple options.

I wouldn't consider $1,800 over MSRP being robbed, not for a car with the capability of the STi. They didn't hold a gun to my head, absolutely no pressure, very professional sales/ management staff - the buying experience was excellent. There are no STi's available in my area and blue/ gold STi's are very hard to find. I didn't feel like waiting for one and the one they had was sitting in the garage with the plastic still on it with 5 miles on the clock - $1,800 over wasn't unreasonable IMO, I was glad to pay it - the STi is awesome.

Cars like the STi are going to bring customers into Subaru dealers that don't think $37.5k (my out the door cost with TTL) for a car is a stretch. I actually feel I saved about $30k buying my STi considering I was shopping M3's and base 911's - two cars the STi will hang with all day at the track - my STi was a screaming bargain.

For people coming from high end STi is dirt cheap, even with 1800 markup.On the other hand for people upgrading from Focus SVT, Neon (ACR anyone) - lower end - STi is good value but are less likely to accept markup.

Went to Chase Parkway in Watertown CT to buy WRX, they refused to take my Grand Cherokee in trade, wouldnt even give me a price. Went right to Center Subaru in Torrington and got Kelly Blue book on Jeep and $2K off WRX. They are the best. When I called Chase to tell them I bought, they got mad at me, said I should have given them a chance. LOL

A friend bought a silver STi from the same dealer I did and paid $1k over MSRP. They got 2 in on Friday, he worked on them all weekend to get them down to $1k over. Both STi's were sold over the weekend - one silver, one black.

¤ "This holdback amount is "invisible" to the consumer because it does not appear as an itemized fee on the window sticker. If the car sells within 90 days of arrival on the dealer's lot, the dealer is guaranteed a profit even if the vehicle is sold to you at cost. Because of the holdback, the dealer can advertise a car at $1 over invoice and still make hundreds of dollars on the sale."¤ Subaru 3% of the Total MSRP (Amount may differ in Northeastern U.S.) http://www.edmunds.com/advice/incentives/holdback/ So If I'm Looking at a WRX STI at $31900 and HoldBack on this Car is Aproximately $1000, Should I Feel Confident with an Offer in the $31000 Range? And as Far as Reg, Tags, Title, & Liscence are Concerned, Can you do it yourself Or do Dealers Demand you Pay Inflated Fees [$400] for Minimum Wage Lackey Work as I Would Feel Better With a Nice Cash Money Envelope for the Vacume Man and Paper Chaser? In Closing I Just Wanted to Find out What Others Drivers Were Paying for Insurance on the WRX STI? Looks Like Edmunds Lists Yearly Insurance at Around $900. ThankYou for Your Time.

Got my STi here in California; the Land of Terminator for Governor. My first offer from when I put a deposit was MSRP. When an STi arrived, the markup was ridiculous! $10,000! I'm sure many car stores around Cali do this to catch the desperate and impatient ones. The wheels weren't the ones I wanted. I waited a week. Magically, the markup lowered to $5,000. I said I'd wait, again. About 1.5 months later, my STi showed up. Markup? $2,500. I was at the car store when they told me this; I said I'd wait until the price was better. Instantly, it became MSRP. Of course, it wasn't that easy to get it down to MSRP, but if you're patient (and firm, yet courteous with the salespeople), you'll get the price you want.

¤ I'm Using the All OnLine Approach and If You Can Find a Dealer that Will Go this Route a Bargain Can Be Had. I've Received 2 Quotes From 2 Different Oregon Dealers and if One of Those Dealers Happens to Be a Very Motivated Seller a Below MSRP Number and Extras May Be in Your Future. Here is My Approach From this Point Forward On a Subaru WRX STI With Alarm Upgrade, Wheel Locks, AutoDim Mirrors & Compass: Drive the Vehicle, Make it Known that the Interior is Substandard [No Leather Package, Less than Impressive Guage and Panel Arrangement, No Remote or Wheel Control for Stereo] and That the Cooper and RSX Type S Both Have These Options At $23,000. Walk off the Lot and Guage Dealer Motivation. If EMail Continues Ask For Lube for Life, Coustom Seat Covers, Custom Tail Pipe, ETC. If the Dealer Indeed Understands that Your Saving them Money with an All EMail Sale and they Recognize Dealer HoldBack is Only Good for 3 Months [3 % of MSRP or Close to a $1000 On the STI] Then You Can Proceed With the Mutual Knowledge that Most Dealer Profit is Made After the Sale. If They Treat You Well You Will More than Likely Service that Vehicle At the Dealer and Return Again for a Future Purchase. And Just Remember that Most Cars in the $30 K Range Have 1ST Year Depreciation in the $5-$8k Range So Holding a Dealer to a Reasonable MarkUp is Beneficial For Both Parties. If Anyone on the West Coast Needs an STI in the Aforementioned Price Range Let Me Know as I May Be Able to Offer My Services. Bad Oregon Economy = Good Oregon Deals. ¶&#128;AC&#128; KRN£¤K£INK

My first experience at a Subaru dealer in southern california didn't go quite as I imagined.... the salesman locked my friend and I out of the car and refused to let us drive it. He said the price was $39,850 and that it was "non-negotiable." I understand that if this car was a limited edition Ferrari Enzo, or even a lowly Mercedes SL55 AMG I might accept that test drives are far and few between. But, this is a $30k SUBARU! Give me a break!

I thought perhaps maybe this Nazi-mentality was at only 1 dealer so I decided to visit another Subaru dealer in southern california. They said no test drives on the STi either. How are you supposed to buy a car without driving it first? I've never owned a Subaru, and apparently I never will because I refuse to buy a car I can't drive.

The problem is there are too many people who are willing to buy a car without driving it. There are too many people who are willing to pay more than MSRP. There are also too many other great cars to be accepting this kind of customer service from anyone.

At many dealers the car was considered "owner driven", meaning no one was giving test drives with so many willing buyers at hand. It makes sense if you think about it bacause the first thing the buyer wants is a car with no miles on it.

Hey, looking at the 2.5 RS. What are some prices paid in Canada? Only owned Honda's before but Subie seems to be the right one on paper to buy so far. Any happy canucks out there? I can't figure out if the AWD in Canada is that useful or is it not worth the lower gas mileage and increased maintenance and repair costs versus FWDs. Any comments? Funny to note that the 2.5 RS and WRX carry the same insurance rate. Too bad their MSRP don't match either.

When the Miata came out dealers here had no demo units and no test drives. Want one, buddy? Put a deposit down and get on the waiting list, your "test drive" occurs when "your" car comes in and you've paid for it. Local Honda dealer wouldn't give test drives on the S2000 for a long time, either. You could drive a WRX and imagine the same thing, only more so.

I was able to test drive an STi but I had to let them pull my credit to show them I was able to buy it. They knew I was interested in buying it,not just taking it out for a test drive. They had two in stock and were using one for short test drives - I bought the one with 5 miles on it.

I can kind of understand a dealer not allowing test drives without someone proving they could buy it if they liked it. Although I had a much easier time getting a test drive in a new M3 and C32 AMG.

A friend of mine got a dealer down to $750 below MSRP on a silver STi this week.

Talk about a CSI killing survey just waiting to happen. IF the attitude and personality coming through in the posts by krnlklink are the true persona this is the salesperson's nightmare. The customer who will give the worst survey to a hard working salesperson is invariably the one who pinches the penny the tightest and believes they are doing a huge favor by buying the car at a barrel scraping figure.

No, I am not suggesting everyone should lay down and pay $xxxx over sticker price however if the situation were reversed and the salesperson were the customer in your hair salon, deli, appliance store or wherever and wanted your $20 styling service for $12 because Schmucks barbershop does a plain cut for that you wouldn't consider them reasonable and when you finished giving them a great style they'd be negative about it. Fill in the scenario with whatever business you are in and ask yourself if that's how you want people to think of you and expect you to do business.

There are plenty of honest and good salespeople working their butts off to give good service and FAIR deals. There are some who are looking for scalps every time. Don't let yourself be scalped but don't try to scalp the salesman either. He/she deserves to make a FAIR living just as much as anyone else.

I've noticed there are many, many STis just sitting at the local dealerships. This is probably a great time to get 'just' a WRX, as the STi is really the hot commodity... Anyone have any luck with this? Anyone recommend a dealership in the greater Boston area?

Also, anyone know what the max contract length is for the 0% financing Subaru is currently offering?

though I'm not in the new car market this year, I did stop by the local dealer to drool and chat yesterday. The guy who sold me my WRX was unusually animated about pitching the virtues of the STi to me, and offered, without my asking, that he had "just been authorized" to offer $750 off of MSRP on the STi.